Fun for the sun

It’s the time of year when you’re spending hours prepping for fantasy football drafts (it’d be great if The Almanac was already here, but we need time to put the finishing touches on everything), probably because it’s too darn hot to go outside, or your neighborhood is flooded, or some stupid natural disaster has hit. Stay safe out there.

Let's get to the news.

1. Helping to rebuild paradise

Bill Self hasn’t been on the sidelines in Champaign, Ill., since he coached the Illini in 2002-03. Getting him back there was always going to require a special event.

Or in this case, one raising money for a special place: Maui.

It really has been a while since Self has been in Champaign. The State Farm Center hasn’t been Assembly Hall since 2013, but that’s beside the point. It’s not an official game, but it’s a significant opportunity to help those in Maui affected by the deadly wildfires this month. Two of college basketball’s premier programs, plus the added bump of Self’s return, should garner plenty of interest in the fundraiser.

“Bill and I talked immediately about how we could come together to help, and turning our closed scrimmage into a charity exhibition is a way we can use our sport to make an impact,” said Illinois coach Brad Underwood.

“The spotlight of this game, heightened by Bill’s return to Champaign, should raise meaningful dollars that will go directly help the community of Lahaina.”

And if the Lahaina Civic Center — where the Maui Invitational has always been held — is part of that recovery effort, even better.

“For decades, the Maui Invitational and the city of Lahaina have been very important to college basketball and our thoughts and prayers go to that entire community as they recover from such a tragic event,” Self said. “(Underwood) and I discussed how our private scrimmage could become an exhibition game to raise money to benefit the so many affected by the recent catastrophic fires in Maui. We both felt this would be a great way for our programs to create awareness to help this cause.”

“This upcoming season will be the sixth time my teams have participated in this event,” Self added. “The people of Maui have always made our stay a lifelong highlight. This is a small way we can help a community that has been so good to so many for so long.”

It’s unlikely the Maui Invitational will actually be held in Maui — there are other, obvious considerations right now than a basketball tournament, no matter how good the field is — so it’s good to see this can help keep some attention on the damaged areas. There are new areas being affected by natural disasters seemingly every week (thinking of Southern Cal today), so anything that can help provide aid is a good thing.

For those who don’t know any pre-2010 college hoops, Self coached at Illinois for three seasons, from 2000 to 2003 where he was 78-24 with two Big Ten regular-season titles and an Elite Eight. He also recruited the players that formed the core of the 37-2 Illini squad that reached the 2005 NCAA title game.

For more info on the game, click here.

2. Could Rutgers’ 2024 dream be a reality?

It’s easy to forget, given the Piscataway exodus this summer, but the future seems bright for Rutgers. Its 2024 recruiting class — headlined by 5-star forward Ace Bailey — is ranked as one of the top classes for that group.

And what if Dylan Harper, another 5-star prospect who’s long been linked to Rutgers for his family ties (brother Ron Harper Jr. was a star for Steve Pikiell’s program), also commits to Rutgers? What then?

(Aside from immediate on-campus celebrations, that is.)

Well, we don’t have to imagine. We got a preview over the weekend at The Summer Classic showcase at Rucker Park in NYC. If not for Cooper Flagg’s heroics (that guy really is everywhere this summer), Bailey and Harper would’ve been the talk of the weekend.

Bailey scored 40 points in one game, and he and Harper dropped plenty of dimes to one another throughout. It wasn’t enough that Rutgers faithful could openly fanaticize about both in scarlet jerseys. Even the announcers got in on it.

From the New Jersey Star-Ledger:

We’ve mentioned before the possibility of Bailey and Harper both playing for Rutgers, but it always seemed remote. Could the Scarlet Knights really have two 5-star players in the same recruiting class, let alone two top-five prospects?

Maybe we need to prepare for that reality. And maybe it gives every program a chance to dream about what’s possible.

3. Famous sons headed to South Bend

Brad Stevens made his mark as a D-I coach at Butler, but he never played D-I hoops, instead starring at D-III DePauw in Indiana.

His son, Brady, is a 6-3 guard who’s entering his senior year of high school. But it looks like he’ll have a chance to do what dad never did: Play D-I basketball. And do it in the ACC, no less, at Notre Dame.

Then again, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. New Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry is stacking the roster with offspring of famous ballers and coaches.

Does this give Notre Dame the inside edge to the Boozer twins? Or maybe Kiyan Anthony or Jace Richardson?

Heck, given the sheer number of famous sons out there, maybe Notre Dame’s entire roster could have nothing but famous names. Then we’d really see Shrewsberry’s coaching acumen…

‘Hoo’ won the offseason?

Dusty May and FAU already enjoyed a dream season, with 35 wins and a spot in the Final Four. Yet in an era when every program seemingly loses at least 1-2 players in the transfer portal, FAU brought back everyone from their breakthrough team. No wonder Rob Dauster handed out a sparkling grade.

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Links as you stay cool in that crushing heat.

• Indiana gave coach Mike Woodson a raise to $4.2 million per year.

• South Florida added Gerald Jones III, a JUCO wing.

• Albany grabbed 7-foot center Patricio Giralt.

• Georgetown has a robust plan to get students to attend games again.

• Bob Huggins entered a 12-month diversion program to resolve his DUI.

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